Villegagnon | Page 2

listen to you; not that we trouble
ourselves much about such matters at court, where people are allowed
to think what they like, provided they do not utter their thoughts too
loudly, or in the hearing of the doctors of the Sarbonne (the theological
college of France), who have of late become rigidly orthodox, and are
resolved to put down the reformers. I must advise you, at all events, to
keep your own counsel; and if you are still determined to apply to
Admiral Coligny, as your views agree with his, they will be in your
favour."

"Thank you for your advice, sweet cousin," answered Nigel. "I will
follow it so far as not to parade my opinions; but should they be
attacked, I shall be ready, if necessary, to defend them either with my
tongue or my sword."
"You are not likely to be called upon to use either of those formidable
weapons, provided you are discreet," said the young lady, laughing.
"You may occasionally at court hear the Protestants satirised, or made
subjects of lampoons; but it would be folly to take notice of such
trivialities, and you would be in continual hot water with worthy people,
perfectly ready otherwise to treat you as a friend. I will speak to some I
know, who will assist your object and forward you to the admiral,
should you determine to seek his patronage."
"I would rather trust to so great and good a man than to any one else I
have heard of in France," said Nigel; "and am anxious, as soon as
possible, to make myself known to him."
By this time the young people had got within a few paces of the
termination of the shady walk, when before them appeared a gay
company of ladies and gentlemen, most of the former being very young,
while the latter were, on the contrary, advanced in life, as their snowy
locks and white beards betokened, though they were richly dressed, and
were doing their utmost to assume a youthful and debonnaire manner.
Nigel on seeing the gay company instinctively drew back into a recess
by the side of the walk, unwilling, if possible, to present himself before
them. His cousin being ready to humour him, placed herself on a
garden seat, and invited him to sit by her. Perhaps she was unwilling
that the interview with her near relative should be brought to an end
sooner than could be helped. They could from this spot observe what
was going forward without being seen. Merry laughter came from the
party of gaily dressed people who passed along the walks, several
approaching near enough to allow their features easily to be
distinguished.
"Who are those?" asked Nigel, as several young people came slowly by,
following a fair girl, whose beautiful countenance and graceful figure
distinguished her from the rest, though many of her companions were

scarcely less lovely. So thought the young Scotchman, as he stood
watching them with admiring eyes.
"The first is our Lady Mary, about to wed the Dauphin of France,"
answered his cousin. "You must, as a loyal Scot, be introduced to her.
Perchance if you are inclined to take service at court you may obtain a
post, though his Majesty King Henry does not generally bestow such
without an ample equivalent."
"My taste does not lead me to covet such an honour," said Nigel. "I
should soon weary of having to dress in fine clothes and spend my time
in idleness, waiting in ante-chambers, or dangling after the lords and
ladies of the court. Pardon me, sweet cousin, for saying so. I came to
France to seek for more stirring employment than such a life could
afford. I will do my devoir to our young queen, and must then proceed
on my journey to find the admiral. Had it not been for the packet of
letters with which I was entrusted, as also for the sake of seeing you, I
should not have come to Paris at all. But tell me, who are her Majesty's
attendants? There is one whose countenance, were I long to gaze at it,
would, I am sure, become indelibly fixed on my heart. What a sweet
face! How full of expression, and yet how modest and gentle!"
"They are my two sister Maries, Mary Beaton and Mary Carmichael
[see Note]; but it is neither of them you speak of. I see now; the damsel
you describe is Constance de Tourville, whose father, by-the-by, is a
friend of Coligny's. The admiral, I am informed, is staying with the
count at this very time, and when I tell Constance who you are, she will,
I am sure, find an excuse for despatching an attendant with you to her
father. I can without difficulty make you known